New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-25
THE CHATswORTH SLAUGHTER.

To the EDITOR OF The Tribune.
SIR As one of the fortunate Survivors OF the Chats
worth massacre, permit me to thank you ior your
editorial OF Saturday, 18th inst Tho monstrous
theory of ncendiarIsm by train robbers which the
company seems anxious to have the public accept
shows what straits they pushed Tor any excuse
tor the criminal negligence that resulted IN thst
horrible slau ghter aud in behalf OF orphaned babes
and mothers made chlldless invoke your powerful
i.auenoe to force searching investigation, to be
followed by such punishment OF those responsible as
will stand tor all time warning to railroad mana
gers 10 hold the lives and limbs OF their patrons 80
cheEr,y
Fuuy awake at tho moment of the crash and entire
" uniniured was beside the burnirg bridge or
onlyert within enc or two minutes of the crash and
il was plain that the fire had been slowly burning Tor
long time. In tact, this point seems conceded ny
the company The road was comparatively straight
and on the open prairie the ire had been seen for
hours from Chatsworth. For weeks past prairie fes
have been OF daily occurrence all through that
COZ atry Everything was as dry az finder NOT only
the grass and weeds. bit the roots and turf Itself
were SO roasted that fire uld eat ITS way under The
surface for rods This was fully understood by the
railroad peouIe fact they had been burning weeds
from right OF way" in that immediate vicinity,
ana vet in the lace of all these warnings they sen on
a single train fourteen ears OF people packed almost
10 snocaon into this death trap six hours after they
claim any prete' Sc of inspection. and term inc
slaughter the act OF God or wo.k OF train robbers
Did fcnds utterly lost to all instincts of humanity
exist, is II in the range OF human probability they
would blrd a bacon light that could be seen for
miles hours before tho train. that OF itself would
def at ia object times out OF hundred
Or would they draw spikes most OF which
conld be done by naked hands 80 worthless
most Of the ties turn the rails and ditch The tram
without possibility of failure detection The
published evidence makes tho roads servants testify
that grass and weeds were cut away from the fatal
bridge some days before, but plenty of brave men
who wore heii finger nails Oh digging nakeG handed
IN the prairie dirt bghng fire, know that the hames
from the culvert fired the standing grass and added
to the horrors OF the situation alter the wreck.
Regarding the incompetence aud seeming helpless
ness of the railroad management after the wreck
will not further trespass your space. Sufficient
comment is the fact that Messengers several OF item
severely injured desiring to continue their journ'y
eastward we're unable to get away Tor nearly forty
hours and workers at the wreck working only men
can work lie, received no Refreshments Tor
more than twelve hours, and this in dcnsely popn-
lated part Ct the seat State OF Illinois and within
short distance of the powerful Illinois Central Rail
road, whose proei ed assistance II publicly stated
was declined. Yours truly DWIGHT DIVINE.
Elenriile, n. T., Aug. l6, 1881